Extractor-and-ejector assembly for firearms



June 6, 1944. A. .A. ROWLEY EXTRACTOR-ANDPEJIECTOR ASSEMBLY FOR FIREARMS2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 13, 1943 W WM w Z w June 6, 1944.

r A. A. ROWLEY EXTRACTOR-AND-EJECTOR ASSEMBLY FOR FIREARMS Filed April13, 1943 Patented June 6, 1944 EXTRACTOR-AND-EJECTOR ASSEMBLY FOR-FIREARMS Arthur A. ltowlemnamden, Conn, assigns! to' Western CartridgeCompany,

New Haven,

Conn, a corporation of Delaware Application April 13, 1943, Serial No.4825837 (cl. a -=25) Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in firearms and relatesmore particularly to im provements in extractor-and ejector assemblieswhich include a movable breech-bolt.

One of theobjects of the present invention is to provide a superiorextractor, ejector and breech-bolt assembly wherein the said ejectorwill serve to prevent the unintentional detachment of the said extractorfrom the said breechbolt.

A further object of the present invention is; to provide a superiorconstruction and arrangement of parts whereby a cartridge-extractor anda cartridge-ejector will each serve to retain the other in place in amovable breech-bolt or' its equivalent.

With the above and other objects in View, as will appear to thoseskilled in the art from the present disclosure, this invention includesall features in the said disclosure which are novel over the prior art.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out thepresent invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is a top or plan view of a breech-bolt in which is incorporated acartridge-extractor and cartridge-ejector assembly in accordance withthe present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an underside view thereof Fig. 4' is a view thereof in frontend elevation;

Fig. 5- is a broken longitudinal sectional view of the forward end ofthe breech-bolt taken on the line 55' of Fig. 4, and inaddition showingthe cartridge-extractor int'he' foregroundand thecartridge-ejector heldin its retired position by a cartridge-casing;

Fig; 6 is a broken detail sectional View taken on the line 66 of Fig.4';

Fig. 7 is a broken transverse sectional view taken on theline 1-1 ofFig. 6;

Fig. 8 isa view corresponding to Fig. 6 but showing-thecartridge-ejector retired by the en'- gagement of the head-end of acartridge-casing with the forward end of the said cartridgeejector; j ii Fig. 9 is a broken transverse sectional View taken on the line 9-9 ofFig. 8';

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the cartridgeextractor, detached; and

Fig. 11. is a similar view of the cartridgeejector.

Forpurposes of illustrating one embodiment of the present invention,there is" shown in the accompanying drawings, a breech-bolt generallydesignated by the reference character l5 which is. generally speaking,of cylindrical form save for alightening-cut 16 in its upper face andtwo radially-projecting locking lugs l1 and I8 integrally formed at itsforward end. The two said locking-lugs l1 and I8 extend radially outwardly from the breech-bolt l5 at substantially diametrically-oppositepoints thereon and are adapted to move into and out of suitablelocking-recesses in a firearm in a manner well known in the art andillustrated, for instance, in the well-known Gara-nd military rifle.

In itsforward face; the breech-bolt is formed with a recess l9 which isadapted to successively receive the head-ends of cartridge-casings such,for instance, as the cartridge-casing 2t illustrated in Figs; 5 and. 8.Extending axially through the breech-bolt- IE is a passage 2| in whichisadapted to reciprocate a suitable firingpin (not shown) in a mannerwell understood in the art.-

Eccentrically of and parallel withthe axial passage 2| in the breechbolt I5, the said breech= bolt is formed with a forwardly-opening pocketor ejector-receiving passage 22- in which reciprocates a rod-likecartridge-ejector 23'. The forward end of the cartridge-ejector 23 ispositioned so asto extend forwardly into the recess IS! in the frontface of the breech-bolt l 5, for purposes or engaging with acartridge-casing such as 20 and ejecting the same, all in amanner aswill more fully hereinafter appear. The said cartridge-ejector 23 isyield-ingly urged forwardly by a helical ejector-spring interposedbetween the rear end ofthe cartridge=ejector and the bottom of thecylind-rically-contouredpocket 22 in which the said cartridge-ejectorreciprocates'.

On its inner face the otherwise cylindricallycontouredcartridge-ejector23 is formed with a clearance-notch 25, the sloping rear wall of whichconstitutes a stop-abutment 2B acting in a manner as will hereinafterappear to limit the forward movement of thecartridge ejector 23 underthe urge of the ejector-spring 24. The under face of'the portion of thecartridge-ejector 23 lying immediately forwardly of the forward end ofits notch 25 acts on occasion as a stopabutment 21 to' limit themovementof a car tridge-extractor, in a manner as will hereinafterappean Laterally intersecting both the axial passage 2| and theejector-receiving passage 22 the breech-bolt I5 and extendingsubstantially perpendicularly with respect thereto, is acylindrically-contoured vertical passage 28 which receives the verticalcylindrically-contoured stem 29 of a cartridge-extractor generallydesignated by the reference character 30.

In addition to its stem 29, the cartridge-extractor 30 includesa' casing20 immediately forwardly of its i-rear face;

The body-portion 3| of the cartridge-extractor 30 is accommodated in arecess 34 in the upper portion of the breech-bolt l and extends part wayinto the locking-lug l8 thereof; 'Ihe'fvertif-i calcylindrically-contoured passage 28 for the accommodation of the stem 29leads downwardly from the bottom of the said recess 34 and through. theunder face of the breech-bolt l5.

tridge-extractor 30 to turn in a direction to'urge itscartridge-extracting lip 32 into the cannelure of a cartridge-casing, anextractor-plunger 35 is employed; The said extractor-plunger reciprocates in the forward end of a pocket 36 formed in the outwardly-and-forwardly sloping rearwall of the recess 34 in the breechbolt i5.Inter-j posed between the inner end of theextractor; plunger 35 and thebottom of the pocket 36 is a helical extractor-spring 31.urging'theQsaid err-1 tractor-plunger into engagement with a shallowconical recess 38 in the adiacent'face' of the-body portion 3| ofthecar'tridg'e-extractor 30'.

spring 24 will assert'itself and will move the cartridge-ejectorslightly forwardly to'engage the forwardly-facing stop-abutment 26thereof with the rearwardly-facing stop-abutment 4| of the stem 29 tolimit the forward movement of the cartridge-ejector, all as shown in Fig6 of the drawings,

Under the conditions above deslcribed, the stern 29'of"thecartridge-extractor 30 will act as stopmeans to limit the forwardmovement of the V cartridge-ejector 23, but the said cartridge- 7ejector. will not under these conditions act as a I stop to limit theaxial movementof the stem 29.

,When in the operation of the firearm the head- 'end. offfiacartridgeecasing such as is seated V A hgt f iecess lfi'l in the forwardend of the breech- For the purpose of. yieldingly urging the car- In itsinner face adjacent-it's lowei' stem 29 of thecartridge-extractor'30isformed with a clearance-notch 39 facing slightly forawardly but mainlytoward thecartridge-ejector 23. The curved lower wall of the saidclearancenotch 39 constitutes a stop-abutment 49' adapted to engagewiththe stop-abutment 21 of'th'e car; tridge-ejector 23, in a manner aswill hereinafter appear. The'portion'of thefstem 29 which is locatedimmediately to the rear of'the clearance-j notch 39 constitutes arearwardlyfaci'ng stop-1 abutment 4| which is adapted tojbe engaged bythe forwardly facing stop-abutment 26 ofthe cartridge-ejector 23.

In assembling the parts-above described, the extractor-spring 31-a'nd'the extractor-plunger may be installed-in the pocket'36 in thebreechbolt,-and the cartridge-ejector 23 and the ejectorspring 24 -maybe installed in the longitudinal pocket 22. Now by manually forcing thecar tridge-ejector '23 intoa position very slightly rearwardly of-thepositionin which it isshown in Fig. 6,'the'clearance-notch 25-thereinjwill-be brought into full unobs'tructing registry with' thej verticalpassa'ge 28. Under these conditions, the cartridge-extractor -30 :may beinstalled in the breech-bolt by" a'downward movement causing its stem'29to pass downwardly; through the vertical passage 28'and throughthenow-registering' clearance-notch 25' in the cartridge-ejector untilthe said cartridge-extractor is fully in place Infmoving downwardly,"thbody port'ion 31*"01 '7 the cartridge-extractor will cam the' extractorplunger 35 rearwar'dly and outwa d lyunt'il the conicalrecess 38 "in Fthe cartridg'e-'-'(=,ii tractor is brought into registry with' thesa'i'd extractor plunger, whereupon the-said extr ctor-plun er will snapinto thesaid recess "38. The full registry of the recess' j-38 and theextractor-plunger 35 will occur when'the cartridge-extractor has been.fully seated" inthe breech-bolt and when the clearance-notch 39 in' thestem 29isinhoriz onta1 registry. with the cartridge-ejector 23. r Assoon asthecartridge-ejector 23 is released from. rearwardmanual-restraint, the ejectorbolt and is engaged by thecartridge-extracting lip 32 the cartridge-ejector will be held'in itsrear'position as shown in Figs. 5, 8 and 9. In

this position, the stop-abutment 21 adjacent the forward end of theclearance-notch 25 inithe cartridge-ejector'23will-be entered into theclearance-notch '39 in' the stem29 of the cartridge;

extractor 30.Q:Under these ,conditions; should centrifugal or otherfor'ces tend to throw the cartridge-extractor. 30goutwardly from therecess 34" in the breech-bolt l 5, the engagement or the stop-abutment:40 :with the stop-abutment?! will positively prevent such displacement;

In self-loading firearms in particular; the dis-f charge of 'a cartridgeeffects a veryrapid turning movement of the breech-bolt I 5 followed bya rearward travel there'of'in a manner well understoodin the arts" Itissduring this've'ry sharper 7 rapid turning movement that :centrifugalforce tends to displace the cartridgeeextractor ""30;- Now. inasmuch. asthis rapid, sharp turning and rearward travel of'the breech-bolt cantake place only when a cartridge-casing 'is seated .in the recess 19 inthe forward-end of thebreech-bolt; the very fact of thepresence ofsuchcartridge== casingserves to automaticallyr'hold the cartridgeplicable when the breech-bolt i5 is turneddnto I a position wherein thestem 29 0f the cartridge extractor 3Uextendsvertical1yand the body-'portion 3| thereof is uppermost. f a

-The invention may be car'riedout in other specific ways than thoseherein set forthwithout departingfrom the spirit and essentialcharacteristics of 'ltheinvention, and'the presenteinbodiments are,'therefore, to'be consideredingall respects as "illustrative and notrestrictive, and

changes coming Within the meanirih d intended to be embraced therein; Y

--I c'laim: T 7 r 1. An extractor-and-ejetbr "assembly; forfirearms-including in combinationz abrech-bblt having anejector-receiving passage extending longitudinally in and intersecting the forward equivalency range'of the appended'claims are end thereofythesaid breech -bolt also "having an".

extractor-receiving passage extending vertically particularly welltransversely of thesaid breech-bolt and laterally intersecting the saidejector-receiving passage therein; a cartridge-ejector reciprocating inthe ejector-receiving passage in the said breech-bolt and provided witha downwardlyfacing stop-abutment movable transversely into theextractor-receiving passage in the said breechbelt" when the saidcartridge-ejector is retired rearwardly relative to the said breechbolt; spring-means urging the said cartridgeejector forwardly withrespect to the said receiver; and a cartridge-extractor having a stemextending into and turning in the extractorreceiving passage in the saidbreech-bolt and formed with an upwardly-facing stop-abutment normallylocated below the path of movement of the said cartridge-ejector'andengageable With the downwardly-facing stop-abutment of the saidcartridge-ejector when the latter is moved into its retired position bythe engagement of a cartridge-casing therewith, to thereby positivelyhold the said cartridge-extractor against withdrawal from the saidbreech-bolt.

2. An extractor-and-ejector assembly for firearms, including incombination: a breech-bolt having an ejector-receiving passage extendinglongitudinally in and intersecting the forward end thereof, the saidbreech-bolt also having an extractor-receiving passage extendingtransversely of the breech-bolt and laterally intersecting the saidejector-receiving passage therein; a cartridge-ejector reciprocating inthe ejector-receiving passage in the said breech-bolt and formed on itsside with a clearance-notch facing toward the extractor-receivingpassage in the said breech-bolt; spring-means urging the saidcartridge-ejector forwardly with respect to the said receiver; and acartridge-extractor having a stem extending into and turning in theextractor-receiving passage in the said breech-bolt and formed with alaterally-opening clearancenotch facing toward the saidcartridge-ejector; the clearance-notch in the said cartridge-ejector andthe clearance-notch in the said cartridgeextractor being positioned withrespect to each other so that when the said cartridge-ejector is in aforward position the clearance-notch therein registers with the stem ofthe said cartridgeextractor to permit the Withdrawal thereof, and whenthe said cartridge-ejector is retired rearwardly by a cartridge-casing,a portion of the said cartridge-ejector is positioned in theclearance-notch in the stem of the said cartridgeextraetor to therebypositively hold the same against withdrawal from the breech-bolt.

3. An extractor-and-ejector assembly for firearms, including incombination: a breech-bolt having an ejector-receiving passage extendinglongitudinally in and intersecting the forward end thereof, the saidbreech-bolt also having an extractor-receiving passage extendingtransversely of the breech-bolt and laterally intersecting the saidejector-receiving passage therein; a cartridge-ejector reciprocating inthe ejector-receiving passage in thesaid breech-bolt and formed on itsside with a clearance-notch facing toward the extractor-receivingpassage in the said breech-bolt; spring-means urging the saidcartridge-ejector forwardly with respect to the said receiver; and acartridge-extractor having a stem extending into and turning in theextractor-receiving passage in the said breech-bolt and formed with alateral clearance-notch facing forwardly and toward the saidcartridge-ejector; the two said clearance-notches being positioned withrespect to. each other so that when the said cartridge-ejector is in aforward position, the clearance-notch therein. is in registry." with thestem of thesaid cartridge extractor to permit the withdrawal thereof,and when the said cartridgeejector is retired rearwardly by acartridge-casing, a: portionof the said cartridge-ejector is positionedin the clearance-notch in the stem of the said cartridge-extractor tothereby positively hold? the same against withdrawal from the breechbolt,

45. .An extractor-and-ejector assembly forfirdarms, including incombination: a breech-bolt having an ejector-receiving passage extendinglongitudinally in and intersecting the forward end thereof, the saidbreech-bolt also having an extractor-receiving passage extendingtransversely of the said breech-bolt and laterally intersecting the saidejector-receiving passage therein; a cartridge-ejector reciprocating inthe ejector-receiving passage in the said breech-bolt and formed on itsside with a clearance-notch facing toward the extractor-receivingpassage in the said breech-bolt; spring-means urging the saidcartridge-ejector forwardly with respect to the said receiver; and acartridge-extractor having a stem extending into and turning in theextractorreceiving passage in the said breech-bolt and formed with alaterally-opening clearance-notch facing toward the saidcartridge-ejector; the clearance-notch in the said cartridge-ejector andthe clearance-notch in the said cartridge-extractor being positionedwith respect to each other so that when the said cartridge-ejector is atthe limit of its forward movement, the rear wall of the clearance-notchtherein engages with the stem of the said cartridge-extractor to limitthe forward movement of the said cartridge-ejector; the two saidclearance-notches also being positioned and related with respect to eachother so that when the said cartridge-ejector is retired rearwardly by acartridge-casing, the portion of the said cartridge-ejector adjacent theforward end of the clearance-notch therein is positioned in theclearance-notch in the stem of the said cartridge-extractor to therebypositively hold the same against withdrawal from the said breechbolt;the clearance-notch in the said cartridgeejector having an extent in adirection lengthwise of the cartridge-ejector sufiicient to fully clearthe stem of the said cartridge-extractor when the cartridge-ejector ispositioned intermediate its full forward position and its retiredposition.

5. An extractor-and-ejector assembly for firearms, including incombination: a breech-bolt having an ejector-receiving passage extendinglongitudinally in and intersecting the forward end thereof, the saidbreech-bolt also having an extractor-receiving passage extendingtransversely of the said breech-bolt and laterally intersecting the saidejector-receiving passage therein; a cartridge-ejector reciprocatin inthe ejector-receiving passage in the said breech-bolt and formed on itsside with a clearance-notch facing toward the extractor-receivingpassage in the said breech-bolt; spring-means urging the saidcartridge-ejector forwardly with respect to the said receiver; and acartridge-extractor having a stem extending into and turning in theextractor-receiving passage in the said breechbolt and formed with alateral clearance-notch facing forwardly of the breech-bolt and inwardlytoward the said cartridge-ejector; the two said clearance-notches beingpositioned with respect to eachother so that when the saidcartridgeejector is "retired rearwardly by a cartridge-casir'ig, theportion of the said cartridge-ejector ad-v jacentthe forward end of theclearance' notch therein 'is positioned in' the forwardlyandinwardly-facing clearance-notch in the stem of the saidcartridge-extractor to thereby positively hold the same againstwithdrawal from the said breech-bo1t; the two said clearance-notchesalso being positioned and related with respect to each other so thatwhen the said cartridge-ejector is at the: normal limit of its forwardmovement, the

rear wall of the'clearanc'e-notch therein engages with the stem of thesaid cartridge-extractor to limit the forward movement of the saidcartridgeejector; the clearance-notch in the said cartridge-ejectorhaving an extent in a direction lengthwise of the cartridge-ejectorsufiicient to fully clear the stem of the said cartridge-extram. torwhen the cartridge-ejector is positioned intermediate its full forwardposition and its re.-

m tiredposition.

I ARTHUR AI RojWLEY."

